Luna Rossa Swordfish in fight against time

Luna Rossa Swordfish is scheduled to race today’s first semifinal match of the America’s Cup World Series Naples match racing championship at 14:00. But the Luna Rossa and America’s Cup Race Management shore crews are in a race against time to complete the repair work they started yesterday afternoon.

Luna Rossa Swordfish was in a jarring collision with Emirates Team New Zealand in yesterday’s quarterfinal match. With the two crews seemingly trying to round the left-hand windward mark, Emirates Team New Zealand approached on starboard with Luna Rossa Swordfish on port. Seconds later, the Italian AC45 smashed into the port stern scoop of the Kiwi yacht.

The umpires’ replay (see video below) shows that Luna Rossa Swordfish was in the three-boatlength circle before Emirates Team New Zealand reached the zone. Emirates Team New Zealand was obliged to give Luna Rossa Swordfish room to round the mark, but didn’t and the collision ensued.

Both boats raced the first fleet race of the day, but in the second race Luna Rossa Swordfish withdrew with a damaged headstay bracket that the crew says occurred in the collision.

“Unfortunately we broke the headstay bracket on our bowsprit,” said Luna Rossa Challenge skipper Max Sirena, a trimmer aboard Swordfish. “It actually came back 10cm. We think it’s the result of collision.”

As of 10:10 this morning Luna Rossa Swordfish was still in the team tent with the two shore crews hoping to complete the repair work in time for the crew to go racing at 14:00. Emirates Team New Zealand has been repaired and is ready for the first fleet race of the day, scheduled at 14:50.